He woke up again, bandages covering his forehead and his eyes. There were some on his left cheek and the left side of his torso. With his eyesight block, he relied on touch and hearing.<br />
<br />
He felt someone holding his hand and heard him sniffling. Almost as if the person had been crying minutes before. Naruto wondered who it was. This person that seem so caring towards him. He was about to speak out, when he heard to door open and close.<br />
<br />
“Minato” said a voice that he recognized as the third Hokage’s. Naruto was surprised that it was the forth Hokage at his bedside.<br />
<br />
“Sarutobi.” the Hokage whispered in surprise.<br />
<br />
“I’m sorry but you’re too close to the boy again. Remember the agreement.”<br />
<br />
“But Sarutobi!” he protested silently. Apparently he was trying not to wake Naruto. “I have to be… look at him.”<br />
<br />
“Naruto is fine. He’s healing at an outstanding rate, faster that any person.” The third Hokage responded, “I’m starting to think that the nine-tailed fox has a hand in this.”<br />
<br />
“Trust me. If I knew this was going to happen, I should’ve never sealed it within him. All he knows is pain and rejection. I can’t even be close to protect him. I can’t protect him. I can’t protect my own son.”<br />
<br />
“The ANBU is there to do it in your place. That is what you hired them for.”<br />
<br />
“The ANBU!” Minato raised his voice but realized his mistake. In a lower voice, he continued, “The same ANBU that failed to do their duty on the night he needed it most. He almost died on their watch. They nailed the door and windows shut with boards, so that he couldn’t get out from the fire they started. How could the ANBU not noticed whoever did this? They were keeping surveillance on his house!”<br />
<br />
“Calm yourself Minato. You’ll wake up the boy.”<br />
<br />
“It just aggravates me that I see my son like this and I can’t do anything about it.”<br />
<br />
“I understand that, as a parent myself, I really do.” Sarutobi said, “ But you mustn’t violate the agreement. It’s been to many times. The consequences could be severe. It might involve taking Naruto away from the village forever.”